Amidst Threats of Tariffs, Ontario Must Make Farmland Protection a Key Issue in the 2025 Election

By Martin Straathof, Executive Director of the Ontario Farmland Trust

As Ontario approaches the 2025 provincial election, voters must prioritize protecting prime farmland to secure long-term food sovereignty and economic resilience. With potential tariffs threatening food imports and the rising cost of living a top concern¹, safeguarding farmland isn’t just an agricultural issue—it’s a critical election issue that impacts every Ontarian.

The Growing Pressure on Ontario’s Farmland

Ontario is home to some of Canada’s most fertile farmland, particularly in the southern regions of the province. However, this valuable resource is under increasing threat from urban expansion, infrastructure development, and land speculation. Over the past few decades, Ontario has lost significant acreage of prime agricultural land to non-agricultural uses, diminishing its ability to produce food locally. The most recent census data highlights a concerning trend: farmland is being lost at an alarming rate of 319 acres per day² putting both local food security and Ontario’s agricultural economy at risk.

Ontario’s agri-food sector contributes over $51 billion to the province’s GDP and employs one in nine workers³. Protecting prime farmland is not just about food. It’s about sustaining rural communities, maintaining biodiversity, and mitigating the impacts of climate change through sustainable agricultural practices. Protecting farmland ensures that future generations have the resources needed to feed the population while supporting economic stability.

Tariffs and Food Security: A Looming Threat

In a globalized economy, Canada relies heavily on food imports to meet consumer demand. However, escalating trade disputes and potential tariffs on agricultural goods could disrupt supply chains and drive up food prices. With Ontario importing a large share of its fruits, vegetables, and processed foods, these trade disruptions could lead to affordability issues for consumers and increased economic pressures on the agri-food sector. Protecting and enhancing local food production is not just an economic imperative, it’s also a matter of food sovereignty.

Food sovereignty goes beyond food security by emphasizing the right of people and communities to define their own food systems, prioritizing local production, and reducing dependency on volatile global markets. Given the increasing geopolitical instability worldwide, including conflicts, climate crises, and trade restrictions, ensuring food sovereignty is more critical than ever. A strong local food system safeguards against external disruptions, keeping food accessible and affordable while reinforcing Ontario’s rural economies. Investing in policies that protect farmland and strengthen local food networks will be essential for long-term resilience and sustainability.

Buying Local: Strengthening Our Economy

We are seeing more consumers prioritizing Canadian-grown food⁴, which is promising, but to truly support Ontario’s future, we must ensure farmers have land to farm. When consumers spend their dollars locally, they generate a Local Multiplier Effect, meaning those dollars recirculate in the local economy 2-4 times more than money spent at non-local businesses⁵. Supporting Ontario’s farmers is one of the most powerful ways to fuel our local economy—but without protected farmland, their future is at risk.

Investing in agri-food processing facilities is critical to ensuring local food can reach consumers efficiently and affordably. Over the years, the number of local abattoirs has fallen by almost half since 1995, making it increasingly difficult for farmers to process their livestock close to home⁶. Investing in local processing infrastructure through on-farm diversification and farmer-owned co-ops strengthens our food system, creates jobs, and supports producers while ensuring greater food security for all⁷. Investing in these facilities ensures that local food systems remain viable and resilient amid economic and trade uncertainties.

Strengthening Farmland Protection Policies

Despite existing policies aimed at farmland protection, such as the Greenbelt Plan and the Provincial Policy Statement, gaps remain. Municipal zoning decisions, Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZOs), aggregate resource extraction, and land speculation continue to erode agricultural land. Stronger enforcement of farmland protection policies, coupled with proactive land-use planning, is essential to curb this trend. Ontario must adopt a more rigorous approach to preserving farmland by:

Expanding Agricultural Land Trusts: Organizations like the Ontario Farmland Trust (OFT), the only province-wide land trust dedicated to protecting Ontario’s farmland, play a crucial role in securing farmland for agricultural use in perpetuity. More support for conservation easements and farmland protection programs can ensure long-term sustainability [1].
Reforming Land-Use Planning: Municipalities should prioritize agricultural lands in planning decisions and resist rezoning for non-agricultural development.
Supporting Next-Generation Farmers: Ensuring that young and underrepresented farmers can access land through innovative lease-to-own models and funding mechanisms will strengthen Ontario’s food security.
Investing in Agricultural Infrastructure: Enhancing local food processing, storage, and distribution systems will reduce reliance on imports and strengthen the resilience of Ontario’s food system.

A Call to Action: Make Farmland Protection an Election Issue

The threats posed by global trade uncertainties highlight the urgent need for Ontario to take stronger measures to protect its farmland and food sovereignty. With the Ontario election set for February 27, 2025, voters have a chance to make a difference. Here’s what you can do:

Learn about the parties’ platforms on farmland protection. Use this resource to understand their commitments: Global News Election Promises [2].
Ask your candidates where they stand on protecting farmland. Make it clear that farmland loss is a critical issue.
Show up to vote on February 27. Find your voter center here: Elections Ontario [3].
Support organizations working to protect farmland. The Ontario Farmland Trust is leading efforts to safeguard farmland for future generations. Philanthropic support is crucial to advancing this mission.

Ontario must commit to a future where farmland is preserved, farmers are supported, and food sovereignty is safeguarded. The time to act is now.

Let’s make farmland protection an issue on the ballot in 2025!

References

Coletto, D. 2025. Ontario Election 2025: Pre-Debate, PC lead drops as Ford’s negatives rise. Ontario Liberals clearly in second. https://abacusdata.ca/ontario-election-2025-campaign-poll-2/
Statistics Canada,. 2022. Land use, Census of Agriculture historical data. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3210015301
Ontario Federation of Agriculture. 2025. Agriculture Matters: A guide for municipal councillors and staff. https://ofa.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Agriculture-Matters-A-Guide-for-Municipal-Councillors-and-Staff-2025.pdf
Harder, I. 2025. As more people buy Canadian, these farmers are reaping the benefits. https://ici.radio-canada.ca/rci/en/news/2139265/as-more-people-buy-canadian-these-farmers-are-reaping-the-benefits
American Independent Business Alliance. n.d. The Local Multiplier Effect: How Independent Locally Owned Businesses Help Your Community Thrive. https://amiba.net/local-multiplier
National Farmers Union Ontario. 2025. n.d. Local Food Requires Local Abattoirs says NFU-O. https://nfuontario.ca/news/local-food-requires-local-abattoirs-says-nfu-o/
Ontario Farmland Trust. 2023. Sowing Seeds of Change: Empowering Ontario Farmers for a Competitive and Sustainable Future. https://ontariofarmlandtrust.ca/2023/12/18/sowing-seeds-of-change-empowering-ontario-farmers-for-a-competitive-and-sustainable-future/

Contact Information: For more information, or to support our cause, please contact us.

Ontario Farmland Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving Ontario farmlands for future generations.